An extension of the Common Sense Journalism monthly column by Doug Fisher, former broadcaster, newspaper reporter and wire service editor. From new media to old, much of journalism is just plain common sense."In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." - Unknown (often improperly attributed to Thomas Jefferson)
"It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his not understanding it." - Upton Sinclair
"Common sense is not so common" - Voltaire
"Common sense is instinct; enough of it is genius" - George Bernard Shaw

Friday, August 27, 2010

Words got connotations, too

There is, as the oft-cribbed Mark Twain phrase says, a lot of difference between the right word and the almost-right word.

That is never more true than in the silly season - i.e., the weeks before Election Day.

So why do we forget that?

(Disclaimer: What I am about to say should not be interpreted as favoring one candidate or another. We're talking language, not politics, here.)

In an AP story by Seanna Adcox* on the S.C. governor's race between Democrat Vincent Sheheen and Republican Nikki Haley is this graf:

Haley wants to eliminate those [corporate income] taxes, while Sheheen called that a bad idea in a state that already has one of the nation's lowest corporate tax rates. Though Sheheen said he would aggressively use incentives to bring companies to the state, Haley took a more apprehensive approach, saying it would depend on factors such as a company's long-term plans in the state.

The problem is the word "apprehensive." Words have connotations, and the connotation of apprehensive is not just cautious, but anxious, almost fearful. I'm betting that wasn't how Haley reacted as she spoke to a room full of business people. I know the writer was trying to draw a negative parallel with "aggressive, but "cautious" would be the more neutral word, and for that matter, why is it needed at all?

Though Sheheen said he would aggressively use incentives to bring companies to the state, Haley took a more apprehensive approach, sayingsaid it would depend on factors such as a company's long-term plans in the state.

By using the questionable word, the writer risks deprecating her work among the partisans and among those who have a discerning eye and ear.

This is why we have editors, to make sure writers don't color outside the lines, and in the silly season editors' tone detectors should be on the same power as their B.S. detectors - ultra-high.

*Follow that link while you can - The State has a habit of deep-sixing such links rather quickly.

Yes, I do coaching and consulting. That is the only shameless commerce you'll get from me here. Go to the bottom of the blog for more details.
Who am I: A longtime print and broadcast reporter/editor/producer and then AP news editor who now professes journalism at the University of South Carolina. (But please note, nothing on this blog represents official university policy or sentiment. If it did, I'd be very concerned.)My point: That journalism is a great occupation, that most journalism is common sense and that our problems arise when we sometimes don't use it.What's covered: My interests center on editing and writing and on editors and the challenges they face in a changing environment. I'm convinced editors are not being trained enough to face these challenges, but that common sense rules the day. I'm heavily involved in Newsplex, the new-media newsroom at the University of South Carolina. But my interests are wide-ranging, so anything, from ethics to some aspects of Web design, is fair game.
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Common Sense Journalism &nbspYes, I do seminars and consulting. Among those I have worked with are the SNPA Traveling Campus, S.C. Press Association, N.Y. Press Association, Georgia Press Association, Mississippi Press Association, Virginia Press Association, Landmark Community Newspapers, American Copy Editors Society, Society of Professional Journalists, Lancaster (S.C.) News, The (Rock Hill, S.C.) Herald, The (Sumter, S.C.) Item, the Internal Revenue Service and the Social Security Administration. Contact me for more information.